5 Most Fattening Foods Ever

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The 5 Most Fattening Foods continued...

3. Jack n Grills in Denver tests the limits with their football-size, 7-pound burrito filled with eggs, ham, green chiles, potatoes, cheese, and onions, totaling an estimated 3,764 calories. Women who finish this colossal meal in one sitting without a bathroom break are rewarded with free meals for life.

4. One of the most popular items at the Shake Shack, a modern roadside burger stand in New York, is the Shack Stack, featuring a deep-friend Portobello mushroom, stuffed with cheese, sandwiched between two cheeseburgers on a bun. This colossal burger will set you back about 1,500 calories.

5. Among the deep-fried monstrosities to be found at state fairs is the Fried Banana Split, served across the country. For this over-the-top creation, banana and honey peanut butter are rolled into balls, then battered, deep-fried, and topped with powdered sugar, caramel and chocolate syrups, peanuts, whipped cream, banana split-flavored ice cream bites, and a cherry. The dietary damage? Approximately 2,000 calories and four days' worth of saturated fat.

How Bad Is Extreme Eating?

The reality is that most of us would indulge in such high-calorie monstrosities rarely, if ever. What harm can an occasional super-feast have if you otherwise eat healthy and get regular exercise?

Once or twice a year is probably fine, says University of Texas assistant professor of nutrition Lona Sandon -- but more than that is trouble.

Two out of three adults in the United States are already either overweight or obese. And because fat is more than twice as caloric as carbs or protein, eating high-fat foods is the easiest way to gain weight. It's also associated with heart disease and certain forms of cancer.

"Engage in eating colossal-calorie foods on a regular basis, and it will not only add lots of unwanted pounds but will also increase your risk for obesity, heart disease, stroke, certain forms of cancer and all the complications associated with these preventable diseases," says Hurley.

Tempted by the Worst Foods?

When you're tempted by an ultra-fattening food, your best bet is to go for a similar, but less caloric item, experts say.

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